Labor Leaders Rally for Proposed National Harbor Casino

Job creation spurs support for gaming

Receive the latest local updates in your inbox

The push to build a world-class casino in Prince George’s County got a boost from local labor leaders Thursday.

Members from the DC Building Trades and UNITE HERE unions held a rally to support a legislative proposal to invest $1 billion on a casino at the National Harbor. They’re pushing for a voter referendum on the measure.

The rally came one day before a Maryland House panel was set to hold a hearing on the casino bill.

“Our members are standing here today to urge lawmakers to support good-paying jobs through private investment,” union leader Mark Coles said at Thursday’s rally.

Coles said surveys they commissioned show 2-to-1 support for a National Harbor casino among Prince George’s County voters.

Opposition to the plan is coming from some lawmakers, who fear a casino would further undermine the county’s struggling horse racing industry.

County Executive Rushern Baker is backing the proposal and is expected to appear at Friday’s House hearing.